Photo Mechanic Keyboard Shortcuts – FREE Download

In my free eBook, 10 Incredible Tools For Professional Photographers, I dedicated a whole chapter to the power of Photo Mechanic.  If you’re not yet familiar with the software then I suggest you grab the book and take a look.  Honestly, it’s a workflow life changer!

The range of possibilities in the software means that there is also an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts to help speed things up even further.  Since the whole point of Photo Mechanic is to create a fast and super efficient workflow, it really makes sense to use these shortcuts, perhaps more so than with any other piece of photo software.

Below you will find a list of the keyboard shortcuts, but I also wanted to give you guys something that you can take away and easily refer to in the field (or in the press room!), so I’ve created an easy-reference PDF that you can store on your smartphone, laptop or tablet and always have it to hand.  I know what it’s like with shortcuts… we remember the basic ones pretty easily, but after periods of inactivity with specific software we forget a few of the other ones.  No need to remember where to look on the internet though with this handy guide!

Get the PDF eBook Version For Free

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If you want a nice, printable version of this table to keep in your bag, or just on your smartphone, hit the button below.


Shortcut List (Mac)

Keyboard Symbols

Click here to skip down to the PC shortcut list.

Option Key
Command Key
Shift Key
Control KeyCtrl
Return Key
Alt KeyAlt

Contact Sheet

Turn tag on+
Turn tag off
Toggle tag on/offt
Open IPTC Infoi
Toggle Selection/Loupe cursorz
PreviewSpace
Set Star Rating*1 through 5
Set Color Class*1 through 8
Remove Color or Star*0 (zero)
Select and scroll to last iteml
Copy itemy
Edit in default editore
Saves
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰]
Renamem or Return (↵)
Play/stop any soundsa
Upload photo via FTPu
Move to previous Contact SheetCtrl – →
Move to next Contact SheetCtrl – ←

Preview Window

Close Preview WindowEsc or ⌘-w
Move back/forward one image←, →
Scroll thumbnails by page↑, ↓, PgUp, PgDn
Delete current itemDelete or Backspace
Toggle rendering quality (RAW/JPEG)q
Turn zoom on/offz or *
Increase zoom+
Decrease zoom
Toggle shadown
Toggle highlightb
Link the two previewsl
One up viewo
2-up view (horizontal)v
2-up view (vertical)h
Switch active pane in 2-upTab
Toggle color managementc
Full screen mode on/offf
Restore from full screen morer
Swap items in 2-up viewg or /
Set Color Class*1 through 8
Set Star Rating*1 through 5
Remove Star or Color*0 (zero)
Set Color Class⌘-1 through 8
Remove Color Class⌘-0
Set Star RatingCtrl-1 through Ctrl-5
Remove Star RatingCtrl-0 (zero)
Toggle tag on/offt or . (period)
Uploadu
Toggle crop toolx
Remove crop⌥-x
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰]
Play/Stop audio soundsa
IPTC Infoi
Add to selected itemsw
DeselectDelete or Backspace
Copyy
Renamem
EditEsc or ⌘-w
Saves
Panning CursorSpace or ⌥
Pan in the zoomed mode⌥-↑, ↓, ←, →
Pan faster in the zoomed mode⇧-⌥-↑, ↓, ←, →
Zoom in and out⌥-Scroll
Zoom in and center on click⌘-click

IPTC Stationary Pad

Clear all fields⌘-d
Load IPTC template⌘-⌥- u
Save IPTC template⌘-⌥- s
Show Job/User/Client dialog⌘-⌥- j
Show/hide Variables window⌘-⌥- v
Apply to selected items⌘-⌥- a
Accept changes and close Stationary Pad⌘- Return (↵)

IPTC Info

Save changes & go to next image⌘-[ OR ⌘-n
Go to next image without saving⌘-⇧-] OR ⌘-⇧-n
Save changes & go to previous image⌘-[ OR ⌘-b
Go back to previous image without saving⌘-⇧-[ OR ⌘-⇧-b
Save, send to Uploader & go to next image⌘-u
Copy all IPTC field data to clipboard⌘-⇧-c
Paste clipboard into IPTC fields⌘-⇧-v
Save changes & close dialog⌘-Return
Clear all fields based on Clear mask⌘-Delete
Load a .IPT or .XMP file⌘-⌥-l
Save all as a .IPT or .XMP file⌘-⌥-s
Apply the IPTC Stationary Pad⌘-⌥-c
Open Variables window⌘-⌥-v
Play the associated sound file⌘-⌥-a
Add Color Class⌘-1 through 8
Remove Color Class⌘-0
Add Star RatingCtrl-1 through 5
Remove Star RatingCtrl-0 (zero)
Enlarge the thumbnailCtrl-z

Slide Show Controls

Advance to next imageSpace or →
Return to previous imageBackspace or ←
Remove image from Slide ShowDelete or d
Tag image+
Untag image
Toggle tag on/offt
Set Color Class1 through 8
Remove Color Class0 (zero)
Pause Slide Show during Auto playCapsLock

File Menu

New Contact Sheet window⌘-⇧-n
New Contact Sheet tab⌘-n
Open Contact Sheet⌘-o
Close Contact Sheet tab/window⌘-w
Close window⌘-⇧-w
Ingest⌘-g
Live Ingest⌘-⇧-g
Live Slide Show⌘-⇧-i
Rename Photos⌘-m
Copy items⌘-y
Delete⌘-Delete
Save As⌘-s
Burn items to disc⌘-b
Send items by email⌘-⇧-e
FTP⌘-u
Upload⌘-Ctrl-u
Export⌘-Ctrl-x
Page Setup⌘-Ctrl-p
Print⌘-p

Edit Menu

Undo⌘-z
Redo⌘-⇧-z
Cut⌘-x
Copy⌘-c
Paste⌘-v
Take IPTC Snapshot⌘-⌥- c
Paste IPTC Snapshot⌘-⌥- v
Find⌘-f
Find and Replace⌘-⇧-f
Search using Spotlight⌘-⌥- f
Select all⌘-a
Deselect all⌘-d
Select tagged items⌘-t
Select rotated items⌘-⇧-r
Invert selection⌘-⇧-o
Select Color Class 1-8⌘-Ctrl-1 through 8
Select anything with a Color Class⌘-Ctrl-9
Select items with no Color Class⌘-Ctrl-0 (zero)
Select Star Rating 1-5⌘-⌥-1 through 5
Select anything with a Star Rating⌘-⌥-6
Select anything without a Star Rating⌘-⌥-0 (zero)
Set Code Replacements⌘-Ctrl-c
Reload Code Replacements⌘-⇧-Ctrl-c
Enter special characters⌘-⌥-t

View Menu

Toggle combined RAW+JPEG⌘-j
View allF1
View selectedF2
View taggedF3
View untaggedF4
RefreshF5
Rescan Contact Sheet⌘- /
Show/hide info tooltips⌘-⇧-t

Image Menu

IPTC Stationary Pad⌘-i
Apply Stationary Pad⌘-⇧-i
Keywords panel⌘-k
Structured keywords panel⌘-⌥- k
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰⌘-[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰⌘-]
Tag photos⌘- +
Untag⌘- –
Preview⌘-r
Edit items⌘-e
Slide Show⌘-l
Set Color Class⌘-1 through ⌘-8
Remove Color Class⌘-0 (zero)
Set Star RatingCtrl-1 through Ctrl-5
Remove Star RatingCtrl-0 (zero)

Application Menu

Preferences⌘ – , (comma)
Hide Photo Mechanic⌘-h
Hide other applications⌘-⌥ -h
Quit Photo Mechanic⌘-q


 

Photo Mechanic Keyboard Shortcuts (PC)

Keyboard Symbols

Option Key
Command Key
Shift Key
Control KeyCtrl
Return Key
Alt KeyAlt

Contact Sheet

Turn tag on+
Turn tag off
Toggle tag on/offt
Open IPTC Infoi
Toggle Selection/Loupe cursorz
PreviewSpace
Set Star Rating*1 through 5
Set Color Class*1 through 8
Remove Color or Star*0 (zero)
Select and scroll to last iteml
Copy itemy
Edit in default editore
Saves
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰]
Renamem or Return (↵)
Play/stop any soundsa
Upload photo via FTPu
Move to previous Contact SheetCtrl – →
Move to next Contact SheetCtrl – ←

Preview Window

Close Preview WindowEsc or Alt-w
Move back/forward one image←, →
Scroll thumbnails by page↑, ↓, PgUp, PgDn
Delete current itemDelete or Backspace
Toggle rendering quality (RAW/JPEG)q
Turn zoom on/offz or *
Increase zoom+
Decrease zoom
Toggle shadown
Toggle highlightb
Link the two previewsl
One up viewo
2-up view (horizontal)v
2-up view (vertical)h
Switch active pane in 2-upTab
Toggle color managementc
Full screen mode on/offf
Restore from full screen morer
Swap items in 2-up viewg or /
Set Color Class*1 through 8
Set Star Rating*1 through 5
Remove Star or Color*0 (zero)
Set Color ClassCtrl-1 through 8
Remove Color ClassCtrl-0
Set Star RatingAlt-1 through Alt-5
Remove Star RatingAlt-0 (zero)
Toggle tag on/offt or . (period)
Uploadu
Toggle crop toolx
Remove crop⇧-x
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰]
Play/Stop audio soundsa
IPTC Infoi
Add to selected itemsw
Deselectd
Copyy
Renamem
Edite
Saves
Panning CursorSpace or ⇧
Pan in the zoomed mode⇧-↑, ↓, ←, →
Pan faster in the zoomed mode⇧-Ctrl-↑, ↓, ←, →
Zoom in and out+ and keypad – +
Zoom in and center on clickCtrl+ left mouse click

IPTC Stationary Pad

Clear all fields⌘-Delete
Load IPTC templateCtrl-Alt- i
Save IPTC templateCtrl-Alt- s
Show Job/User/Client dialogCtrl-Alt- j
Show/hide Variables windowCtrl-Alt- v
Apply to selected itemsCtrl-Alt- a
Accept changes and close Stationary Pad⌘- Return (↵)

IPTC Info

Save changes & go to next imageAlt-[ OR Ctrl-n
Go to next image without savingAlt-⇧-] OR Ctrl-⇧-n
Save changes & go to previous imageAlt-[ OR Alt-b
Go back to previous image without savingAlt-⇧-[ OR Ctrl-⇧-b
Save, send to Uploader & go to next imageAlt-u
Copy all IPTC field data to clipboardCtrl-⇧-c
Paste clipboard into IPTC fieldsCtrl-⇧-v
Save changes & close dialogCtrl-Enter
Clear all fields based on Clear maskCtrl-Delete
Load a .IPT or .XMP fileCtrl-Alt-l
Save all as a .IPT or .XMP fileCtrl-Alt-s
Apply the IPTC Stationary PadCtrl-Alt-c
Open Variables windowCtrl-Alt-v
Play the associated sound fileCtrl-Alt-a
Add Color ClassCtrl-1 through 8
Remove Color ClassCtrl-0
Add Star RatingAlt-1 through 5
Remove Star RatingAlt-0 (zero)
Enlarge the thumbnailAlt-z

Slide Show Controls

Advance to next imageSpace or →
Return to previous imageBackspace or ←
Remove image from Slide ShowDelete or d
Tag image+
Untag image
Toggle tag on/offt
Set Color Class1 through 8
Remove Color Class0 (zero)
Pause Slide Show during Auto playCapsLock

File Menu

New Contact Sheet windowCtrl-Alt-n
New Contact Sheet tabCtrl-n
Open Contact SheetCtrl-o
Close Contact Sheet tab/windowCtrl-w
Close windowCtrl-Alt-w
IngestCtrl-g
Live IngestCtrl-Alt-g
Live Slide ShowCtrl-Alt-i
Rename PhotosCtrl-m
Copy itemsCtrl-y
DeleteCtrl-Delete
Save AsCtrl-s
Burn items to discCtrl-b
Send items by emailCtrl-Alt-e
FTPCtrl-u
UploadCtrl-Alt-u
ExportCtrl-Alt-x
Page setupCtrl-Alt-p
PrintCtrl-p

Edit Menu

UndoCtrl-z
RedoCtrl-⇧-z
CutCtrl-x
CopyCtrl-c
PasteCtrl-v
Take IPTC SnapshotAlt- c
Paste IPTC SnapshotAlt- v
FindCtrl-f
Find and ReplaceCtrl-⇧-f
Search using SpotlightCtrl-Alt- f
Select allCtrl-a
Deselect allCtrl-d
Select tagged itemsCtrl-t
Select rotated itemsCtrl-⇧-r
Invert selectionCtrl-⇧-o
Select Color Class 1-8Ctrl-⇧-1 through 8
Select anything with a Color ClassCtrl-⇧-9
Select items with no Color ClassCtrl-⇧-0 (zero)
Select Star Rating 1-5Alt-⇧-1 through 5
Select anything with a Star RatingAlt-⇧-6
Select anything without a Star RatingAlt-⇧-0 (zero)
Set Code ReplacementsCtrl-Alt-c
Reload Code Replacements⇧-Ctrl-Alt-c

View Menu

Toggle combined RAW+JPEGCtrl-j
View allF1
View selectedF2
View taggedF3
View untaggedF4
RefreshF5
Rescan Contact SheetCtrl- /
Show/hide info tooltipsCtrl-⇧-t

Image Menu

IPTC Stationary PadCtrl-i
Apply Stationary PadCtrl-⇧-i
Keywords panelCtrl-k
Structured keywords panelCtrl-⇧- k
Rotate anti-clockwise 90⁰Alt-[
Rotate clockwise 90⁰Alt-]
Tag photosCtrl- NumLock- +
UntagCtrl- –
PreviewCtrl-r
Edit itemsCtrl-e
Slide ShowCtrl-l
Set Color ClassCtrl-1 through Ctrl-8
Remove Color ClassCtrl-0 (zero)
Set Star RatingAlt-1 through Alt-5
Remove Star RatingAlt-0 (zero)

Application Menu

PreferencesCtrl- , (comma)
Quit Photo MechanicCtrl-q
Photo of author
Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. His editorial work has been featured in publications all over the world, and his commercial clients include brands such as Nike, Apple, Adobe and Red Bull.

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3 thoughts on “Photo Mechanic Keyboard Shortcuts – FREE Download”

  1. Dan, it looks great, and I downloaded the “Tools for Photographers” .. but what do we click for the PM Keyboard Shortcuts? I hit the Tweet button, and sent it out, but nothing unlocked. Thanks

    Reply
    • Hey Carl,

      drop me a note via the contact page and I’ll send you a link. I’m sorry that it did not work for you. That’s the first report I have had like that.

      Reply
      • I think the issue might be that you did not get the tweet posted. I can’t see it on Twitter. Regardless, drop me a message with the contact form (link at top of page) and I’ll send you a link to DL the PDFs.

        Reply

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